CHAPTER XXXI.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1577, 12 August 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER XXXI.

" "Woll," said Joe, with a laugh, "I thought you never wore in Melbourne before, Jack ; and even if you had been. I did' nt think you went in for acquaintances of that kind !" " Upon my soul," said Jick, in a pulled w.iy, " I think I have known the woman somewhore, but I can't call bur name to mind. She must have lived in U.-it." " Anyway, she appeared to know you pretty well," mi id Joe Jolhboy. "But, fur that matter, this Melbourne is a queci place ; folks you never .saw before pick up acquaintances with you." They were now in the glare and hurry of Bourke-street, elbowing Ms.P., courte/Aus, and the like. A discussion aiose as to where they should go that night. Bill and Joe voted for the Megatheriunf or the gay Mabille, but Jack strenuously objected.* Hehad npv«>r seen the Theatie ltoyal, and, as he might be summoned at any moment to Grit, he thought he had better have a look at the premier thcatic of the colonies. So his good-natured companions, after a little ai gument, gave way, and the thiee ascended the steps or tbodross-cholo enhance, and after paying for their tickets, found themselves in the tin.scl temple of Thespi'-. To Jack's eyes, however, it was a biillinnt sight. The glitter of the chandeliers, the tier after tior of spectators ; but, above all, the dross -cnclc, with its gailydiossed occupants, woio as the wonders of the " Ambian Nights " to him— a realization of his many dic.uns. The orchestra, too, was playing a dienmy air, which threw, as it were, an additional witchery over tlie scone, iJ.iok abandoned himscll to a pleisant reverie, in which visions ot the lovely girl ou whom all thoughts weic iitcd floated through his brain. Two years had pushed sinco ho liad seen her. What a glorious cieatiuo she must have become. Tho blood inched in tonents tluough his veins as he thought of lier beauty. Jack and tho " boys " stood behind the circle, os was their custom in the little theatre at Giit. They wcic always too busy to take a seat, or, at least, pretended to bo, which was the fume. J u&t as one of the actresses began to sing about " Moet and Chandon," Jack heard footsteps behind him. Ho did not turn round at once ; but after a foiv minutes he noticed that several gentlemen had come in. As thoy moped on to obtain seals, ho saw ab a glance that one of them was JTcctoi Macinnis the otheis his political fuencls. .lack's face beoaino suiFiu>ed with cninson , his hcait beat fast, and evil pas-ions began to swjy again. Ho hated most coidi.illy this successful man — hated him as we hate a man who has done us a teirible wiong, and hated him for a terrible leason. But as Jack's eye followed Hoc Lor to tho box where he took his seat, he became still moie agitated. Fur, when lJectoi had stopped in, a bright young face was turned to him — a face <-o beautiful, so enchanting, that it took .Jack's biealh away , eyes whose .sparkle shamed the diamonds that glitteicd iv her delicate eai.s and shone ou her swelling bicast. It was' Bertha — Bertha developed into a rare and beautiful woman, a humin gem — ' 100 blight loi suili .t glass." Jack gazed upon her with wild admiration. He had rhemhed for her these two long years a passionate love, glowing eveiy day iv intensity ; but ho did not dream that this vision would have kindled that love into so ardent a fluue. His head swam, his face flushed and paled, and he thought ho would have fainted. His eyes were rivctted on tho box where Bertha, her father, and Hector Maciunis sat ; but for some time he did not again obtain a glimpse of that entrancing face. The mocking scintilliaiions of the diamonds weic only vouchsafed. Tho stage, with all its fleeting panoiam.l, faded out of Jack's vi«iou. He saw nothing bat Bertha. But now a new feeling entoied his mind. Ho noticed that she talked animatedly to Hector ; that ho also appealed oblivious of the stage Tho fiend of jealousy took possession of his soul, and ho giound his teeth iv a sort of fron/y. Then he thought what a fool he was to bo jealous of Hector. He was much older than Bertha, and could not surely aspiro to the hand of the young beauty. But then he remembered that Hector was only in the prime of life, and pursuing a brilliant career, and his hopes wore again dashed to the ground. What if thio man was to thwart him at every step ! Although Jack's compauious were amused with what was going 1 on upon tho stage, they did not fail to nolico that Hector was flirting with some one in the boxe«. Prespntly Bill spoke — " I shouldn't wondor if Hector's going in for matrimony as well as poliVcal power. See how attentive he ia to the girl with the diamonds." " Why shouldn't he ?"' said Joe. "Why it's over a year since his wife was sent to tho asylum, when she went mad throuhh indulging in a little too much in brandy, and she died somo time ago — a great relief to him. His luck is in." Jack heard those remarks as if in a dream. When Prudence Macinnis nee M'Crauth had. became a habitual drunkard, and ■ Hector's troubles .became the talk of Grily'ho had rejoiced', to think fchat at last his mother had been revenged. He gloated over , the agony that Hector Macinnia, must have suffered when it became known fch^t his 'wife* was,- confined in U lunatio^asyliim^;trHo-|thq>ig'ht«~he *saw in the whoMitbjn^ in^l? f i^% fco - i . Prudence .had the j

" Why, I don'fc wonder at his courting tint girl so much," said Joo. "She's neither more nor less than the beiufcy of Grit — Bertha White. By jove, hasn't she become a plum. Look at tho diamonds, how thoy sparkle ; and isn't she dressed ! Well, I declared." And Master Joa gazed on in speechless admiration. " That Hector's a deep fellow," said Bill. "Ten to one ho had this girl in his eye when he got the divorce. Fancy his marrying a girl who is worth hundreds and thousands. lie is lucky." It should bo remembered that Bill and Joe weie not old inhabitants of Grit; they were importations from tho Great Corner at Ballarat, and consequently know nothing about Jack's affair with Bertha. Jack would have liked to havo knocked the two of thorn down. They absolutely tortured him. " That would be the girl for you. Jack"' said Joe. " Hadn't you better strike up an acqu<iiutainc(! ?" Jack's reply was lather strong. The piece was now drawing to a dose, tho whole corps do theatre were on the fitdire, and the piinoipals weie lepoatiug in turns the closing veises of the last .song. This was the signal for the aristocratic portion of tho assemblage to leave. Of couibc they did not mind the comfort of the other spotion of the audieuoo — why should they P They wanted to catch their trains, and what to them was the annoyanro caused to the plubians who paid a shilling to bieak their backs in the pit? Boitha rose with the lest, and now Jack had .1 full viow of her. She had rounded and filled out, ;iud no one could deny she was bewitching, indeed, pec'ilc-*. An any grace poiv-idod her movements and fahy lijrhlno&s. Jack lesolved to otch her eye if possible. Surely sho hud not forgottoa the old love, the love that had commenced when they wore boy and gill together, holding sheep on the hills of Grit." Closer and closer she came to him as the party mado their w.iy to tho doors The rustle of silk continued as lady after lady passed out. Boitha was leaning on Hector's arm, and ho was talking to lu-r evidently in an ardent tone. A baleful fire lit up Jack's eyes as he saw this. His heart beat fast and hi- hands clenched. Just as she was passing she lifted hoi eyes and they met his. Their eyes met tho fiist timo for two years. On Jack's countenance was depicted wild, passionate, almost despairing love. Boitha's face flushed ciimson, making her a thousand- fold moie lovely, but she averted her eyes, and moved on vilh tho gay throng. .lack leant again&b the circlo. A gicafc blow had been struck. His vision of love and happiness and sui'cess faded out like dissolving views, and a blank future appealed before him. " Come, Jack, what is iho matter with you?" naid Joe, " you'io not ill, are you !" " No, no," said Jack, in an uncertain quivering voice, tiying to force a laugh, " why should Ibo ? Why should I be ': ' " Well," f-.iid ISM, when they had got down into tho stieet, "where will we go?" " [Tome," said Joe, " it's getting late." " Home," said J.iok, who was now perfectly frenzied, •' I won't go homo. Let us go anywheie, anywhere. I don't care."